23 December 2012 02:31

Bradford winger Kyel Reid is expected to return to league action in the Boxing Day home game against Accrington.

Reid, who had been sidelined for two-and-a-half months with a serious groin injury before featuring in the Bantams' FA Cup replay defeat to League One promotion chasers Brentford, had been pencilled in for a squad place for Saturday's match at Wycombe, only to see the fixture called off due to a waterlogged pitch at Adams Park.

Striker Zavon Hines, who made his first start since mid-November against Brentford after recovering from an ankle injury, hopes to continue in the side but manager Phil Parkinson could restore Nahki Wells and James Hanson who had been rested against the Bees.

The fifth-placed Bantams are looking to extend their impressive run to just one defeat in eight league outings.

Accrington are facing a goalkeeping crisis ahead of the clash.

Regular number one Ian Dunbavin is ruled out for the season following shoulder surgery and on-loan replacement Paul Rachubka received a straight red card in the closing moments of Saturday's entertaining 1-1 draw with Plymouth.

Rachubka's dismissal for his part in an unseemly melee, which came shortly after he saved Luke Young's penalty, cleared the way for 18-year-old rookie Andrew Dawber to make his debut in stoppage time.

Given the quick turnaround in games, Dawber has every chance of earning a starting berth unless boss Leam Richardson can arrange an emergency loan deal for a keeper, similar to the one that brought Rachubka in from Leeds.

Speaking afterwards, Richardson did not rule out the possibility of appealing the decision.

"I've spoken to him (Rachubka) initially and I'll have to have a look at it on the DVD before I speak to the officials," he said.

Centre-back pairing Peter Murphy and Dean Winnard recovered from respective hip and head injuries to feature against Argyle and Richardson has no significant concerns among his outfield players.